During Oktoberfest season — and pretty much any time of the year — many travelers enjoy spending their airport layovers in a bar with a beer.

In the past that meant something generic, sudsy and overpriced. But as the craft beer industry has boomed in towns and cities around the country, it’s now possible to find locally made brews in just about every airport.

“I make it a point to pound homegrown beer at every airport I pass through. That means sipping Stone IPAs at the brewery’s San Diego outpost and knocking back Land-Grant's hoppy wheat beers at its Columbus airport taproom — and then taking a six-pack to go, too,” said Joshua M. Bernstein, author of The Complete Beer Course and Complete IPA.

History of airport brewpubs

Boston-based Samuel Adams may have started the airport brewpub trend back in 1993, when it opened a branch at Boston Logan International Airport. The company now has 12 airport brewpubs around the country: Atlanta; Boston, Cincinnati (two); Richmond, Va.; Miami; St. Petersburg, Fla.; West Palm Beach, Fla.; Fort Wayne, Ind.; Charleston, S.C.; Flint, Mich.; and at New York’s LaGuardia Airport.

“As a brewer, I travel a lot and knowing that I can have a taste of home at most airports across the country is something I’ll never take for granted,” said Jim Koch, founder and brewer of Samuel Adams. “It makes my travels a lot more fun.”

Today, brewpubs such as Cask & Larder offer up a wide variety of local and regionally made beer at Orlando International Airport, but in the late 1990s the airport was the first to have a working brewery.

In April 1997 the Shipyard Brewing Company of Portland, Maine, opened a 20-barrel, 5,000-square-foot microbrewery in the airport’s main terminal. Passengers could look thorough 6-foot glass windows, watch beer being produced, and take a self-guided tour along the perimeter of the facility to learn about the workings of the brewery.

There were also two nautically themed Shipyard Brew Pubs in the airport, offering pub food and games, such as checkers, backgammon and darts (!), along with a half-dozen fresh-brewed beers.

“Back then, finding good beer anywhere was difficult and there were no security matters at the airport to worry about, so I had no reservations about making the trip from Tampa to Orlando to experience the coolness of a brewery inside of an airport,” said Gregg Rottler, creator of the Flights From Hell website.

“Our five-year lease ended just after 9/11 and the [airport] administration at the time decided that they would rather move in the direction of a food court instead of a brewery due to the times we were in,” said Fred Forsley, Shipyard Brewing Company owner and CEO. “We were replaced by a Quiznos, and we are still bummed about it.”

Modern-day airport brewpubs

Today, it’s a rare airport that doesn’t have a brewpub on site or a few restaurants and bars with a good selection of local beers on tap — or in cans. And not all beers have to be consumed on site: At Memphis International, Nashville International and a handful of other airports, travelers can get a craft beer (or other adult beverage) in a to-go cup to drink as they walk through the concourses or hang out at the gate. And at Nashville airport’s Yazoo Beer Cart and some other airport brewpubs, passengers can purchase six-packs and, in some cases, fresh-filled growlers of local craft beer to take home.

While far from complete, here are some airport brewpubs where a delay offers a great excuse to order up a pint. Feel free to add a comment about your favorite airport brewpubs.

At Baltimore-Washington International Airport, the Flying Dog Tap House on Concourse A not only offers what it calls a “life-changing” selection of beers, but a menu where some of the dishes incorporate signature Flying Dog beers.

At Chicago’s O’Hare Airport, the Goose Island Bar (Terminal 1, Concourse B; there are two others as well) is a horseshoe-shaped gathering spot in the middle of the concourse. Beers on tap focus on brews that reflect the local region, such as the Chicago-inspired 312 Urban Wheat Ale and the Green Line Pale Ale.

Year-round, there’s plenty of Colorado craft beer served at the New Belgium Hub (Concourse B), the Boulder Beer Tap House (Jeppesen Terminal) and many other pubs and restaurants in Denver International Airport. But from Sept. 28 to Oct. 9, the airport will be hosting its fourth annual “Beer Flights” beer garden from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily in the outdoor plaza between the Jeppesen Terminal and Westin Denver International Airport. Ten Colorado breweries will be represented with two beers each. A $10 beer garden ticket includes a souvenir glass and 10, 2-ounce samples of beer.

In Leinenkugel’s Leinie Lodge on Concourse D at Milwaukee’s General Mitchell International Airport, there are self-serve beer taps where travelers can pour their own beer from Wisconsin’s Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company.

There are more on the way, but currently more than a half-dozen venues, including the Country Cat and Rogue Ales (which sells bottles and growlers to go), pour local craft beers at Portland International Airport.

Elsewhere, you’ll find Core Brewery represented at Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport, Caps Beer Garden in United’s Terminal C at Newark Liberty International Airport, the just-opened Germantown Biergarten at Philadelphia International Airport and, at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport, plenty of local beers served up at Landry’s, The Local, Ember, the American Craft Tavern and Mockingbird Distillery.

And by the end this year, Cigar City Brewing Company will reopen in its new location at Florida’s Tampa International Airport and regain the title of the country’s only in-airport brewery, with several exclusive-to-the-airport beers alongside the Tampa-style Cuban food on the menu.

Posted!

A link has been posted to your Facebook feed.

Bavaria's scenic abbey brewery, Andechs Klosterbrauerei is accessible from Munich by public transit, and includes a modern brewery, a small distillery, two taverns, a beer garden with views of the Alps, and 17 simple rooms in the guest wing for overnight stays. Kloster Andechs

Belgium boasts more than 400 active breweries, including the Duvel Moortgat Brewery, which dates back to 1871, in the town of Breendonk. Three tour and tasting experiences can be booked online for Mondays through Saturdays. Peek Creative Studios

The Netherlands are home to more than 400 breweries. Visit Brouwerij ‘t IJ in Amsterdam, which offers tours in English Friday to Sunday and has a bar open every day of the year. courtesy of Brouwerij ‘t IJ

Ireland is home to more than 100 breweries as micro and craft brewing begin to trend. You can’t miss the beer the Emerald Isle’s known for though, and the Guinness Storehouse is open daily in Dublin with a variety of educational experiences. Susan B. Barnes

For an authentic taste of the Czech Republic's beer, visit Budweiser Budvar in České Budějovice. The historic brewery dates back to 1895 and offers daily tours in English, Czech and German. Check the website for seasonal hours. courtesy of Budějovický Budvar

Denmark hosts about 200 breweries, including historic Carlsberg, which offers a free shuttle from near Copenhagen Central Station to its Vesterbro heritage site, where tastings and guided tours (and horse carriage rides) are available with tickets daily. courtesy of Carlsberg

Kirin Ichiban offers complimentary tours at nine of its breweries in Japan. Visit the original in Yokohama for 80 minutes of history behind the scenes and a tasting, available Tuesday to Sunday. courtesy of Anheuser-Busch

South Korea has more than 50 breweries, like Magpie Brewing Company, which serves eight beers on tap at its two brewshops in Seoul, and offers tours on Saturdays and Sundays at its brewery on Jeju island. courtesy of Magpie Brewing Co.

Paris' young craft beer scene is budding with five makers like La Parisienne, which produces a line of top-fermenting beer in a nondescript parking garage at the base of the Butte aux Cailles, a charming, village-like district in the 13th arrondissement. Visits must be made by appointment, while La Parisienne’s beers can be tasted at restaurants, bars and beer shops across Paris. courtesy of Brewery La Parisienne

Sydney, Australia's now home to more than two dozen craft breweries (and counting). Visit The Grifter's brewery and tasting bar in Marrickville for eight beers on tap from Wednesday to Sunday. courtesy of The Grifter Brewing Co.

Vietnam has more than 60 breweries including more than 15 in Ho Chi Minh City. Visit Pasteur Street Brewing Co.'s taproom in Saigon to try five beers made with local ingredients. courtesy of Pasteur Street Brewing Co.

One of a few countries in the world to make beer from desalinated sea water, Aruba's known for light golden-colored lager, Balashi. Tours of brewery, Brouwerij Nacional Balashi on the west side of the island, are offered Monday to Friday with a tasting included. Aruba Tourism Authority

Mexico's Baja Sur state boasts more than 50 breweries, namely around Cabo. Baja Brewing Company hosts three cantinas, including a restaurant adjacent to the brewery in San José del Cabo. courtesy of Baja Brewing Company

Fans of Mexico's Tecate beer can tour the factory in the city of the same name by scheduling in advance. The site includes a beer garden and is debuting renovations in the fall. courtesy of HEINEKEN USA

Canada has hundreds of breweries, with more than 60 in Alberta, where you can tour The Grizzly Paw Brewing Company in Canmore. A variety of tours are offered on Wednesdays and weekends, and a pub is open daily. Noel Rogers

In the U.S., Colorado has been called the "Craft Beer State" and the "Napa Valley of Beer", with more than 250 craft breweries. Visit the state's original brewpub, Wynkoop Brewing Company, in Denver for tours Tuesday to Saturday, or dining daily. courtesy of Wynkoop Brewing Company

One of America's early craft beer hubs, San Diego has more than 75 breweries (and more in the metro area). Stone Brewing Co. has a massive campus in the city with a restaurant, cinema, games and gardens, and offers daily tours at its brewery in Escondido, Calif. Stone Brewing Co.

Oregon boasts more than 225 breweries. Visit Deschutes in either of the state's main beer cities, Bend or Portland. The brewery offers free tours, a tasting room and a pub daily in Bend, and the Portland, Ore. pub is open daily with a full menu. courtesy of Deschutes Brewery

Traverse City, Mich. is home to 20 breweries, from Brewery Terra Firma, which grows hops onsite, to The Filling Station, which pairs food with a dozen beers on tap in an historic train depot. Ashley Day, USA TODAY

Cincinnati has more than 40 breweries (and more in the works). In the city's Over-the-Rhine neighborhood, Rhinegeist Brewery offers free public tours daily (sign up online) and stunning rooftop views near Great American Ball Park. Wendy Pramik

Cleveland boasts two dozen breweries, such as Great Lakes Brewing Company, which hosts public tours on Fridays and Saturdays. In the Ohio City neighborhood, the brewpub offers a full food menu, Monday to Saturday. Wendy Pramik

St. Louis has more than 20 breweries, but you can't beat the Anheuser-Busch Brewery Tour. Buy tickets online in advance for one of four tour options offered multiples times a day throughout the year. courtesy of Anheuser-Busch

Asheville, N.C.'s beer scene is booming with more than 30 breweries. Asheville Brewing Company has three locations with pizza, movie screenings, a game room and a patio depending on the destination. Anne Roderique-Jones

Los Angeles has a dozen breweries, most in the city's Arts District, where you can find Angel City Brewery. The massive tasting room hosts murals from community artists, and tours are offered daily. courtesy of Angel City Brewery

New York City has more than a dozen breweries throughout the five boroughs, namely Brooklyn Brewery, which has gained a reputation around the world. Visitors can book small batch tours offered Monday-Thursday or join free tours when the tasting room is open Friday-Sunday. Check online for updated times. courtesy of Brooklyn Brewery

Tampa, Fla. has about a dozen breweries (more in St. Petersburg, Fla. and the surrounding areas), and Cigar City Brewing put the city on America's craft beer map. The award-winning brewery's tasting room is open daily, and tours are offered Wednesday to Sunday with online reservations. Russell Breslow

Jacksonville, Fla. has more than 10 breweries and a local ale trail. Visit Bold City Brewery's taprooms Downtown and on Rosselle Street, where tours are offered most Saturdays. Stephen Kubiak, VISIT FLORIDA

Philadelphia has 16 breweries, plus more in surrounding counties. Brewing since 1994, Yards hosts a tasting room, open daily, and free brewery tours on Saturdays and Sundays. courtesy of Yards Brewing Company

Pittsburgh has about 15 breweries in the city and many in the surrounding area. Visit Church Brew Works in the Lawrenceville neighborhood to drink Pipe Organ Pale Ale in a pew from a former church. courtesy of Church Brew Works

Seattle has nearly 40 breweries within the city, such as Elysian Brewing Co., which has five locations. Visit the original Capitol Hill pub for a full restaurant and beer hall experience. Captain and Clark

D.C.’s craft beer scene has grown to 10 breweries, from industrial to brewpubs with contemporary dining. Visit Bluejacket Brewery in Navy Yard, which keeps 19 beers on tap, offers a full menu and dining room, and hosts weekend tours, which can be booked in advance on Eventbrite. Sara Snyder